517 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Replacing bulbs
1Bulb socket
2Clamp
Press and hold clamps2.
Pull bulb socket1 outwards.
Bulb socket
1Backup lamp
2Tail lamp, brake lamp, parking and
standing lamp
3Tail lamp, brake lamp, parking and
standing lamp, side marker lamp
4Turn signal lamp
5Rear fog lamp (driver’s side only)
Depending on which bulb needs to be
replaced, turn the respective
bulb1-5 counterclockwise.
Pull the bulb out of the housing.
Insert the new bulb into the bulb sock-
et.
Turn the bulb in the bulb socket clock-
wise carefully.
Insert the bulb socket into the rear
lamp.
Align bulb socket and press bulb sock-
et into rear lamp until it audibly engag-
es.
Make sure bulb socket is attached
properly.
Close the respective cover in the cargo
compartment.
Close the tailgate (page 125).
523 Practical hints
Flat tire
Flat tire
Preparing the vehicle
Park the vehicle in a safe distance from
moving traffic on a hard, flat surface
when possible.
Turn on the hazard warning flasher
(
page 151).
Turn the steering wheel so that the
front wheels are in a straight-ahead
position.
Set the parking brake (page 60).
Set the automatic transmission to park
positionP (
page 194).
Turn off the engine (page 41).
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Turn off the engine by pressing the
KEYLESS-GO* button once
(
page 70).
Open the driver’s door (this puts
the starter switch in position0,
same as with the SmartKey re-
moved from the starter switch). The
driver’s door then can be closed
again.
Remove the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button from the starter
switch (
page 43).
Have any passenger exit the vehicle at
a safe distance from the roadway.
Warning!G
The dimensions of the Minispare wheel are
different from those of the road wheels. As
a result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a Minispare wheel
mounted. Adapt your driving style accord-
ingly.
The Minispare wheel is for temporary use
only. When driving with a Minispare wheel
mounted, ensure proper tire pressure and
do not exceed a vehicle speed of
50 mph (80 km/h).
Drive to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center as soon as possible to have the
Minispare wheel replaced with a regular
road wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one spare wheel mounted.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a
Minispare wheel is mounted.
Warning!G
Your vehicle is equipped with air suspen-
sion. Do not open or close any doors or the
tailgate while mounting a spare wheel. The
vehicle could rise or lower to a previously se-
lected level. You or others could be injured
as a result.
iOpen door only when conditions are safe to
do so.
524 Practical hints
Flat tire
Mounting the spare wheel
Preparing the vehicle
Prepare the vehicle as described
(
page 523).
Take the wheel wrench, the collapsible
wheel chock, and the vehicle jack out
of the cargo compartment
(
page 495).
Take the Minispare wheel out of the
cargo compartment (
page 499).Lifting the vehicle
Prevent the vehicle from rolling away
by blocking wheels with wheel chocks
or other sizeable objects.
One collapsible wheel chock is includ-
ed with the vehicle tool kit
(
page 495). For information on set-
ting up the collapsible wheel chock,
see (
page 498).
When changing wheel on a level surface:
Place one wheel chock in front of and
another sizeable object behind the
wheel that is diagonally opposite to the
wheel being changed.
Always try lifting the vehicle using the jack
on a level surface. However, should
circumstances require you to do so on a
hill, place the wheel chock and another
sizeable object as follows:
Place the wheel chock and another
sizeable object on the downhill side
blocking both wheels of the axle not
being worked on.
!Vehicles with factory-mounted
running-boards*:
Your vehicle is equipped with a scissors-type
jack (located under the cargo compartment
floor) designed for use with factory-mounted
running boards. Only use this jack when jacking
up vehicles with factory-mounted running boards
as otherwise the vehicle’s underbody can be
damaged. See separate instructions for
scissors-type jack.
Warning!G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack take-up brackets
built into both sides of the vehicle. To help
avoid personal injury, use the jack only to lift
the vehicle during a wheel change. Never
get beneath the vehicle while it is supported
by the jack. Keep hands and feet away from
the area under the lifted vehicle. Always
firmly set parking brake and block wheels
before raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use,
especially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on level surface. Make sure that the jack
arm is fully seated in the jack take-up brack-
et. Always lower the vehicle onto sufficient
capacity jackstands before working under
the vehicle.
530 Practical hints
Battery
The battery is located under the front
passenger seat.
The battery should always be sufficiently
charged in order to achieve its rated ser-
vice life.
If you use your vehicle mostly for
short-distance trips, you will need to have
the battery charge checked more
frequently.
When replacing the battery, always use
batteries approved by Mercedes-Benz.
If you do not intend to operate your vehicle
for an extended period of time, consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center about steps you need to observe.Batteries contain materials that can harm
the environment if disposed of improperly.
Recycling of batteries is the preferred
method of disposal. Many states require
sellers of batteries to accept old batteries
for recycling.
iMercedes-Benz recommends to have the
battery replaced at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Warning!G
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries.
Risk of explosion.
Fire, open flames and smoking
are prohibited when handling
batteries. Avoid creating sparks.
Battery acid is caustic. Do not
allow it to come into contact
with skin, eyes or clothing.
Wear suitable protective cloth-
ing, especially gloves, apron and
faceguard.
Wear eye protection.
Rinse any acid spills immediate-
ly with clear water. Contact a
physician if necessary.
Keep children away.
Follow the instructions in this
Operator’s Manual.
540 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Mercedes-Benz recommends that the
vehicle be transported with all wheels off
the ground using flatbed or appropriate
wheel lift/dolly equipment. This method is
preferable to other types of towing.If circumstances do not permit the recom-
mended towing methods, the vehicle may
be towed with all wheels on the ground
only so far as necessary to have the vehicle
moved to a safe location where the recom-
mended towing methods can be employed.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, the vehicle may be towed only
for distances up to 30 miles (50 km) and at
a speed not to exceed 30 mph (50 km/h).
!Do not tow-start the vehicle.
!Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equipment,
with the SmartKey in starter switch turned to
position0.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment. Towing
with sling-type equipment over bumpy roads will
damage radiator and supports.
To prevent damage during transport, do not tie
down vehicle by its chassis or suspension parts.
Use the towing eyes.
Switch off the ESP
® (page 107) and the
automatic central locking (
page 130).
!Do not tow with one axle raised. Doing so
could damage the transfer case, which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
All wheels must be on or off the ground. Observe
instructions for towing the vehicle with all
wheels on the ground.
Warning!G
If circumstances require towing the vehicle
with all wheels on the ground, always tow
with a tow bar if
the engine will not run
there is a malfunction in the brake
system
there is a malfunction in the power
supply or in the vehicle’s electrical
system
as that will be necessary to adequately
control the towed vehicle.
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make sure the starter switch is
in position2 (
page 42).
543 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Installing cover
Engage cover1 at top and press at
bottom.
Stranded vehicle
Freeing a stranded vehicle, on which the
wheels are dug into sand or mud, should
be done with the greatest of care, especial-
ly if the vehicle is heavily loaded.
Avoid pulling the vehicle abruptly or diago-
nally, since it could result in damage to the
chassis alignment.
Never try to free a vehicle that is still cou-
pled to a trailer.
If possible, a vehicle equipped with trailer
hitch receiver should be pulled backward
in its own previously made tracks.
553 Technical data
Engine
Engine
ModelGL 320 CDI (164.8221)
1The quoted data apply only to the standard vehicle. See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center for the corresponding data of all special bodies and special
equipment.
GL 450 (164.8711)
Engine642273
Mode of operationDiesel 4-stroke engine4-stroke engine, gasoline injection
No. of cylinders68
Bore3.27 in (83.00 mm)3.66 in (92.90 mm)
Stroke3.62 in (92.00 mm)3.38 in (86.00 mm)
Total piston displacement182cuin (2987cm3)285 cu in (4663 cm3)
Compression ratio17.7:110.7:1
Output acc. to SAE J 1349215 hp/4000 rpm
(160 kW/4000 rpm)335 hp/6000 rpm2
(250 kW/6000 rpm)
2Premium fuel required. Performance may vary with fuel octane rating.
Maximum torque acc. to SAE J 1349400 lb-ft/1600 - 2400 rpm
(543 Nm/1600 - 2400 rpm)339 lb-ft/2700 - 5000 rpm
(460 Nm/2700 - 5000 rpm)
Maximum engine speed4500 rpm6500 rpm
Firing order1-4-2-5-3-61-5-4-2-6-3-7-8
Poly-V-belt2035 mm2404 mm
554 Technical data
Rims and tires
!Only use tires which have been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. Tires approved by
Mercedes-Benz are developed to provide best
possible performance in conjunction with the
driving safety systems on your vehicle such as
ABS or ESP
®. Tires specially developed for your
vehicle and tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz can be identified by finding the
following on the tire’s sidewall:
MO = Mercedes-Benz Original equipment
tires
Using tires other than those approved by
Mercedes-Benz may result in damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
!Using tires other than those approved by
Mercedes-Benz can have detrimental effects,
such as
poor handling characteristics
increased noise
increased fuel consumption
Moreover, tires and rims not approved by
Mercedes-Benz may, under load, exhibit dimen-
sional variations and different tire deformation
characteristics that could cause them to come
into contact with the vehicle body or axle parts.
Damage to the tires or the vehicle may be the
result.
iFurther information on tires and rims is
available at any authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center. A placard with the recommended
tire inflation pressure is located on the driver’s
door B-pillar (
page 550). Some vehicles may
have supplemental tire inflation pressure infor-
mation for driving at high speeds (
page 395)
or for vehicle loads less than the maximum
loaded vehicle condition (
page 395). If such
information is provided, it can be found on the
placard located on the inside of the fuel filler
flap.The tire inflation pressure should be checked
regularly and should only be adjusted on cold
tires. Follow tire manufacturer’s maintenance
recommendation included with vehicle.
iThe following pages also list the approved
wheel rim and tire sizes for equipping your
vehicles with winter tires. Winter tires are not
available as standard or optional factory equip-
ment, but can be purchased from an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Depending on vehicle model and the standard or
optional factory-equipped wheel rim/tire
configuration on your vehicle (Appearance
Package, etc.), equipping your vehicle with win-
ter tires approved for your vehicle model may
also require the purchase of two or four wheel
rims of the recommended size for use with these
winter tires. See an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center for more information.